The Wilmingtonian., 1887-06-11
oh, for a Col. Mcclure.

The restraining influences of municipal
enactments have so eliminated in recent
years, the marrow from the Fourth of
July" that the American citizen is fast los
ing interest in that greatest day, our natal
| anniversary!
That demonstrations of former years some
what exceeded the propreties is no excuse
for rushing to the extreme and abolishing
| and banishing the great Fourth from the
American continent. In speaking of the
| celebration, or revivifcation Of that day In
Philadelphia Col. Mcclure says:
We will have grand old time Fourth of
July in Philadelphia this year, and every
body but helpless dudes and chronic growl.
ers and people OF the past rejoice over it.
Business men have walked up to the fact
that Philadelphia has Independence Hall
and that it is something more than meet
ing place for jobbing municipal legislators;
and they remember that here the Declara-
tion of Independence was proclaimed and
the old Liberty Bell rang ont its song of
freedom to the New World Nor are our
business men alone in reviying their revere
ence for the natal day of the Republic.
Every calling and condition, old and young,
men and women, boys and grls-all eyes
brighten over hearty patriotic welcome to
the Fourth of July.
1t is too soon to give definite programme
but it is safe to say that hundreds of thous-
ands of people will attend if the weather
shall permit, and that the entertainment
IA OF raaffxyn f,,
will be national salutes; there will be mill
tary parades; there will be bands to play
national airs; there will be singing clubs to
render the American Marseillaiss in sweet
est strains; there will be school children In
hosts to romp and sing; there will be ora
tions for the thoughtful, music for the gay,
frolic for the playful; there will be two bal.
loon ascensions; and we hope to have boat
races, fireworks and many other attractions
added.
The contributions already received at The
Times office assure ample means for grand
celebration. Only few have contributed
as yet, but these are so thoroughly represen
tative that others will speedily initiate their
example, and before the close of the present
week, we confidently expect to have fund
OF $4,000, which would be ample for the
grandest popular celebration ever given in
Philadelphia. Nobody will be paid for SER
vices rendered, and $40, 900 wisely devoted
to legitimate expenses, will go clear around
the biggest sort of Fourth of July demon.
stration. 1t will be celebration ''of the
People, by the People and for the People"
and it will teach to all the one important
lesson that free government shall not per-
ish from the earth.''
Elizabeth City, N. j., claims the Fourth
of July as much her properly as 1t is of
Philadelphia, and though more early asso-
Citations of the early Republic cling around
Philadelphia Elizabeth claims also that she
was a crimson theatre of some of the early
struggles for liberty.
And what about Wilmington aud her ST.
lent environs of Brandywine-precincts of
more CORY historic fame than any in our
broad land! Are we not to yell and shout
for liberty too! Has not the Old Kings
Road heard the measured tramp OF Hessian
and red-ooat, and its hot dusty roads oft
sucked in the red blood Of continental SOL
diersP Who has more right from the At
lantic to the Pacific than the descendants of
the old settlers of Brandywine to make the
old rocks and gorges of the historic creek
resound with patriotic and liberty-loving
peans!
Yes, but let us do all this celebrating
wisely and well, outside the city limits
Let there be some comprehensive and settled
plan, some location indicated where all the
citizens Of Wilmington, who care to remem-
Der those glorious old days, may gather and
make a demonstration of fireworks and
Fourth of July speeches aud such other
jubilations as their patriotism may suggest.
But Danish everything from the city.
The following leading bankers and bust
ness men Of Philadelphia were appointed by
Mayor Filter committee to arrange for the
Peoples Fourth OF July celebration:
John Wanamaker, Thomas Dolan, Will
liam NJ. Singerly, Colonel Theodore E. VIE
dersheim, Colonel Robert P. Dechert, Col
onel S. Bonnaffon, Jr., George P. Kimball,
Darwin G. Fenno.
The sum of s2,2l4 has been collected in
three days.